Friday, October 01, 2010

KALIBO, Aklan – A total of 5,232 posts are at stake in the province of Aklan for the October 25 polls.The officials to be elected in the 17 municipalities for the barangay polls include a Punong Barangay and seven Barangay Kagawads while for the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) election, a Chairman and seven kagawads are also to be elected, in the 327 barangays across the province of Aklan.Ibajay has the most number of barangays with 35 followed by Banga with 30, Madalag with 25 barangays, Libacao has 24 barangays and Malinao with 23.The towns of Nabas and Batan have 20 barangays each, Makato with 18 barangays, Malay and Numancia, both have 17 barangays, and the capital town of Kalibo and New Washington have 16 barangays each.Tangalan and Buruanga have 15 barangays each, Altavas with 14, Lezo with 12 barangays and the town of Balete has the least number of barangays with 10.Under the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Resolution No. 9039 promulgated on September 21, 2010, candidates for the barangay elections must be Filipino citizens, at least 18 years old on election day, able to read and write Filipino or any local language or dialect; and registered voters of the barangay where they intend to run for office and residents for at least one year immediately preceding the day of the election.For the SK polls, candidates must be Filipino citizens, at least 15 years old but less than 18 years old on election day, able to read and write Filipino, English or the local dialect, qualified voters of the Katipunan ng Kabataan of the Barangay where they intend to run for office and residents of the barangay at least one year immediately preceding the election and must not have been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude.The filing of candidacy for the barangay and SK elections started on October 1 to October 13, 2010 at the local Comelec office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.. The campaign period is slated from October 14 to October 23, the poll body said.Meanwhile, the Comelec and the Philippine National Police implemented the 45-day election gun ban on September 25 that prohibits the carry and transport of firearms or other deadly weapons in public places even if licensed to possess or carry the same, unless authorized in writing by the Comelec.